Free Patterns

Saint Lawrence Socks

The Saint Lawrence Socks feature a crocheted chain cast on, a lacy wave pattern on the cuffs, a gentle rib to shape the leg and foot, a gusset heel, and a choice of two toe-decrease finishes. Although the instructions are for a a medium-size sock (8.5″ foot length), there are values for two versions—one for finer yarn and needles and the other for larger yarn and needles.

Story: For more than a decade, I’ve been designing sweaters and accessories for a collection that I call Great Lakes Chill Chasers. I am ready to publish these patterns and decided to launch the collection with this free pattern.

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK.

Owain’s Hat

Yarn: DK weight in two colors—the hat in the photo was knit using hand-spun yarn.

Needles: US 3 or 4 (3.75 or 3.5 mm)
5-needle sock set or circular.

The color pattern is charted and is worked using the stranded knitting technique. Part of the color pattern is worked in with the ribbing.

Story: My daughter lives in Newport, Wales and is a hand spinner. She sent this yarn to me so I knit it into a hat for her son, Owain.

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK.

Patricia’s Scarf

Yarn: Sock or fingering weight yarn.

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)

The scarf starts at the bottom front. The two long tails are worked up to the neck ending with four mirrored increases on each side to shape the neck slightly. Then back-of-neck stitches are cast on and the two tails are joined to form the basis of the back collar. Decreases on each side shape the back.

Actually, this is a blank canvas for a knitter’s creativity. The back could be squared off like a sailor’s collar. The long pieces can be any width or length a person desires. The pattern could be a cable, lace, texture or multicolored.

Story: At an annual knitting retreat, a friend told me that the air conditioning where she worked hit her between her shoulders and she would like to find a scarf pattern that covered more of her back than scarfs usually do. I designed this scarf pattern for her (Patricia).

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK.

Lace Boot Cuffs

Yarn: Shetland jumper-weight yarn. Other medium weight sock yarn can be used as well.

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)

Gauge: 20 sts/3″ (7.62 cm), 32 rows/3″ (7.62 cm)

The cuff can be warn as shown or without a fold. The design was inspired by a Russian lace pattern. The instructions include both charted and written-out instructions.

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK

Short-Row Cloché Hat

Yarn: DK or light worsted weight yarn.

Needles: US 4, 5, or 6 (3.5 mm, 3.75 mm or 4 mm)

Gauge: 5.5 sts/inch

This cap is knit back and forth in garter stitch using short rows for shaping. The cap in the small photo was knit using yarn with a long color change to show where it was joined. One corner of the edge is turned up and fastened with a broach or a button.

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK.

Marshfield Sock

The color pattern is charted and is worked using the stranded knitting technique. The soft ribbing in the leg and top of the foot makes the sock fit to the contours nicely.

Story: When driving to Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp in Marshfield, WI, we stopped in Stevens Point at Herrschner’s where I bought the yarn. I designed the sock at camp in Marshfield.

Pattern: This pattern is in a printable PDF file that can be downloaded from this LINK.

Gusset-Heel Gansey Sock

Yarn: Light DK weight or heavy sport weight.

Needles: US 1 or 2 (2.25 or 2.75 mm) 5-needle sock set.

Story: In her book, Knitting Ganseys, Beth Brown-Reinsel discusses the details that makes sweater construction identifiably Gansey — welts, plain area, definition welt, patterning, seam stitches, gusset. This sock design displays those features including the split in the welt. The gusset for the heel is worked like an underarm gusset, then turned with a short-row technique. This allows ample ease for heel shaping. An enterprising knitter may even choose to include initials in the plain area.